Shark s01e08 Episode Script
Love Triangle
1 Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
Nice, sort of.
Oh.
Oh.
Breathe.
Yeah, I'm breathing.
This is me breathing.
Watch.
Listen.
Focus.
Find your center.
I'd rather find yours.
Are you going to take this seriously? Can I tell you honestly? Trying to get me to do yoga is like trying to get Satan to meditate.
Ready for down-facing dog? I thought you'd never ask.
A 16-year-old girl was apparently leaving a party in this affluent Brentwood neighborhood when she was struck from behind by a car.
Did he say Brentwood? Oh, my God, that's horrible.
Paramedics say she died instantly.
Her name is being withheld until her family is notified.
Answer the phone.
Hi, this is Julie.
Leave me a message.
I'll call you back.
Stay here.
Have you seen the body? No, not yet.
My daughter was at this party.
I'm with the DA's office.
Lift up that sheet.
Jeez.
That's my dad.
That's my dad.
Jules.
Jules, I saw it s on the news.
Oh.
What, I tried your cell.
Why wasn't your cell on? I'm sorry.
My battery was dead, Dad.
I'm sorry.
I'm okay.
Look, the girl, her name is Erica Hartford.
She goes to South Lake Prep.
Did you see what happened? No, I was inside.
And some kids they started screaming.
Said something about somebody had been hit by a car And so we called 911.
Go sit in the car.
Don't move.
I'll be just a few minutes, okay? Glad she's okay.
Thank you.
What about this poor kid? Cops tracked down the parents.
They live in Compton.
That's a long way from South Lake Prep.
Yeah, Erica was on scholarship.
Ah.
She invited some friends up here for the party and according to witnesses, that didn't go over too well.
Black victim, rich, white kid party, exclusive neighborhood.
Ah, the press is going to have a field day with this one.
Oh, yeah.
90% of the kids at South Lake, their parents are either rich, famous, or both.
We need answers now, okay? A racially charged case like this, it can get ugly really fast.
- I want to see.
- Maam, maamYou can't Erica I want to see if it's her.
No! No! No! No, please, God! Oh, God! The dead girl is Erica Hartford.
Attended South Lake under the Prep For Prep program.
My dad co-authored that bill.
Minorities from low-income neighborhoods get state subsidies to attend high-end prep schools.
Okay, so what happened? Students at the party said there was tension between some of the victim's Compton friends and the kids from South Lake.
Some of the white girls were hitting on the black guys.
Next thing you know, somebody runs down Erica Hartford.
The cops ran the kids for priors.
Two of Erica's Compton friends have criminal records.
Follow up.
The key is finding that car.
I'm checking every body shop on the west side for vehicles with damage matching this incident.
Good.
Martin, crime scene.
Yep.
Casey, Madeleine, I want you to re-interview every kid at that party.
Is it okay if we talk to your daughter? She is a witness.
Just go easy.
Raina, you're going to head down to Compton with our new investigator.
When did you hire an investigator? In about half an hour.
Hey, when you're done there, you wouldn't mind helping me out on mine, would you, sport? What are you doing here, Stark? I've always had a personal shopper in every boutique on this street.
The question is, what are you doing here? Working.
What are you, a chauffeur? Private security, but you you already knew that, right? Oh, I might have made a few calls.
Isaac, my job offer is still open.
I'm doing just fine.
I mean, the money's good, I'm my own boss.
Yo, Isaac! Get over here, man.
Now! Yo, love the bling.
Are you kidding? This is the guy you'd take a bullet for? I just caught the Brentwood case.
The vehicular homicide on the black teenager? Yeah, and there's a Compton connection.
That's your turf, right? Thanks, anyway, but I'm done with the street.
Yo! Let's roll! You guys got dental? You knew the victim? My friend Kat introduced us a couple months ago.
Katherine Crosby? Mm-hmm.
She and Erica were pretty close.
Were you aware of any tension at the party? There's always drama.
I mean, kids get drunk, fight, fool around, but nothing unusual.
So, how is it working for my dad? It's interesting.
What's it like being his daughter? "Interesting" would definitely be the adjective.
You guys about done? Well, um Good.
we do have a lot of other people to talk to.
Thank you, Julie.
No problem.
You okay? Yeah, I'm fine, Dad.
So, some kids at school are saying that the police are focusing on Erica's friends from Compton.
I can't speak for the police, but my team is talking to everyone, even you.
I need you to be careful, Jules.
This is a very emotional case, and, you know, people know that you're my daughter.
I can handle myself.
Good.
Because the press is all over this thing and when they find out that you were at that party I got it.
Why would someone kill Erica? That's what I'm trying to find out.
I checked this kid's sheet.
He's half a banger.
No offense, I can handle this myself.
I'm sure.
Stark just asked me to watch your back.
I was a legal aide lawyer for two years.
I'm used to bad neighborhoods.
There he is.
Black shirt.
Anthony Rand? Pick up, pick up, pick up.
I'm ADA Troy.
I have a few questions for you.
Like I told the cops, I got nothing to say.
You were at the party where Erica Hartford was killed.
Can I help it if they like to hang with the homeboys? Several witnesses saw you arguing with a boy from South Lake Prep.
You're not putting this on me.
I had nothing to do with what happened.
Yo, man, let's go.
Any way you can get him back here? I'm sorry, you asking for my help? Please.
Yo, Anthony! Lady's got a few more questions for you.
She can ask them here or downtown.
What, you going to arrest me? Well, you're a minor with a sheet.
If I take a weapon off you right now, you're down with juvie, so be smart, and don't make me chase you down.
Tell your boys to take off.
I'll check y'all later, man.
- Cool - A'ight homie.
Now tell me about this party.
It was just a normal party.
People were drinking, but nobody was out of control.
Was there tension between the white kids and the black kids? Not that I saw.
They've partied with us before.
It's no big deal.
Erica asked us to come.
It was cool.
When was the last time you saw her? Upstairs.
She was with some white dude.
Ben Channing.
Plays lacrosse.
I saw Erica and Ben go into a room upstairs.
I don't know if she was getting busy or what.
Were they dating? No.
Ben's been going out with Kat Crosby for almost two years.
Erica was Kat's best friend.
That was Erica's trip, trying to fit in up there.
Good luck with that.
It was hard for her.
Erica wanted to fit in.
She hung out with Kat and Ben all the time.
I think Erica had it bad for him.
She had a crush on Ben? And apparently it was mutual.
Kat showed up and found Erica and Ben in the bedroom.
Really awkward.
The sad reality is that if Erica Hartford were white, and she'd been killed outside a party in South Central, the driver of that car would either be in jail or dead at the hands of the LAPD.
It's like he wants a damn riot.
You know what? It cuts both ways.
You know how many e-mails I've gotten urging me to nail the "black bastards" that did this? You'd think we would have learned something from Rodney King.
Funky part isthis is looking less like a race thing than romance gone wrong.
Victim gets caught fooling around with her best friend's boyfriend.
We need more than that.
Well, try this.
The police got a report of a BMW stolen off the street outside the party house registered to none other than Kat Crosby.
That's awfully coincidental.
Any luck finding her? Not yet, but we're on the boyfriend.
All right, the second you can prove this wasn't about race, I want to hold a news conference.
I want this caseleared before things get out of control.
Ben, several people saw you arguing with Erica the night of the party.
She was upset.
I was trying to calm her down.
Why was she upset? She had invited some of her friends from Compton.
I guess word got around, and 20 people showed up.
Was that a problem? No, not at all, but Erica thought that people would be pissed off at her.
She was always worried about that.
It couldn't have been easy trying to balance two different worlds.
I guess.
But everybody liked her.
I mean, she and my girlfriend Kat, they were good friends.
You had an argument with Kat that night, too, right? She's my girlfriend; we fight all the time.
She wanted to take off, I wanted to stay.
She was my ride.
You sure she wasn't mad because she caught you fooling around with Erica? No way.
We were all friends.
I would never do that to Kat.
All right, where's Kat now? I'm not sure.
Ben, we need to talk to Kat.
Thank you for coming in, Mrs.
Crosby.
We're talking to some of the parents of some of the kids who were at the party.
It's fine.
I don't know what I can tell you.
We wanted to speak to Kat.
Any idea where she is? No.
I saw her running out this morning.
I've been giving her space.
This has been very difficult for her.
You spoke to the police? They came to the house.
I thought they were there about the stolen car.
Did your daughter tell you what happened that night? Only that Erica left early.
When Kat heard what happened, she ran home.
We live only a few blocks away.
She said she was too upset to drive and and she admitted she'd been drinking.
When she returned home the next morning, her car was gone? Yeah.
Mrs.
Crosby, have you considered the possibility that Kat didn't come straight home that night? I don't understand.
Something happened between Kat and Erica that night.
Something involving Ben Channing.
Kat and Erica argued Wait.
Are you suggesting that Kat was somehow involved in Erica's death? We're saying that we need to talk to your daughter.
If you want to speak to either me or my daughter, I suggest you contact my attorney.
How'd that go? Not well.
Isaac.
Make me happy.
Hey, I'm in Compton.
I got a call from a buddy of mine in the Sheriff's Department.
They found Kat Crosby's car off Alameda.
There's blood and fabric on the right, front bumper.
Full forensic rundown.
You are a rock star.
Hold on.
Service provider shows Kat Crosby's phone registering on a cell tower in Laguna.
Ooh, what do you want to bet Mom and Dad have a cozy little place down the coast? You're heading to Laguna.
Several suspects have been questioned in the Erica Hartford hit and run case.
But as of yet no arrests have been made.
All right, I'll check the windows around back.
You can't just spy into someone's house.
He's doing his job.
Are you forgetting that this guy planted evidence in a cop killing? And as a result we took a major drug dealer off the street give him a chance.
This guy knows where to draw the line.
She's barely breathing! Call an ambulance! Hey Kat wake up Wake up.
She's resting comfortably.
Well, good for her.
I still want an officer posted at her door.
She's in no shape to run away.
What'd she take? A combination of prescription sleeping pills and alcohol.
Look, did she try to kill herself or not? Too many pills for an accident, not enough to kill her.
Upset, yeah.
Suicidal? Tough to tell.
I don't want you discussing my daughter's condition with these people.
She doesn't have a choice your daughter's a suspect in a murder investigation.
That doesn't give you the right to harass her caregiver, Sebastian.
You know what, Dan? When I start harassing people, believe me, you'll be the first to know.
We'd like to speak with Kat.
She is in no condition to answer questions.
We'll call you in a few days.
Nice try.
Your client already fled once.
You want to speak to Kat? Have her arrested.
See how that plays in the paper.
Well, when you put it that way.
You arrested the girl in her hospital bed? I suppose I could've waited till she got up to go to the bathroom.
It makes us look like bullies.
It makes us look like prosecutors going after the killer of a teenage girl.
All I'm saying is that arresting the girl the day after she O.
D.
's Jess, okay, for all we know, Kat Crosby did all this to avoid a murder prosecution.
Well, she just might succeed.
Your Honor, it's been five days since my client attempted suicide.
It's unreasonable to make a determination regarding her competency to stand trial at this time.
Miss Crosby was examined by a court-appointed psychiatrist and found to be of sound mind.
And our psychiatrist, a nationally recognized expert in childhood trauma, found that Katherine is in no condition to I'd like to hear from Miss Crosby.
How do you feel, Katherine? I'm okay.
Are you sure you're ready for trial? Yes.
My client's opinion is not a reliable ind I've read the evaluations of both experts, and taking into account the age of this defendant What about the age of the victim, Your Honor? Mr.
Stark Do I need to remind the court of the brutal nature of this crime? No.
Then I'll confine my remarks to the high-profile nature of this case and its potentially explosive impact on the community.
How is that relevant? I'm glad you asked.
The answer's very simple.
We have a black victim of decidedly modest means and a wealthy, white defendant.
It's your call, Judge, but personally, I'd rather not drive home through a war zone tonight.
How'd you know Perlman would grant us a trial based on fear of a riot? In a competency hearing, the judge is your jury.
Her opinion's the only one that matters.
Meaning? Meaning Judge Perlman had a rock thrown through her windshield after the Rodney King verdicts.
That's brilliant.
It's a curse.
It's not all good news.
She denied our motion for a change of venue.
Trial stays on the west side.
Forget the venue.
Let's focus on our theory.
Which is? The ever popular love triangle: Erica loves Ben, Kat loves Ben, Ben loves both, tragedy ensues.
We're gonna have to prove that Erica and Ben hooked up that night.
And that Kat's car wasn't stolen.
She killed Erica, she drove the car to Compton, and she dumped it to cover her tracks and after we prove all that, we have to make a white-bread westside jury stand up for a black girl from a part of the city they wouldn't be caught dead in.
And how do we do that? I have no idea.
This is a murder trial, Ben.
Which means, if you're withholding relevant information, you can be charged as an accessory.
You guys don't understand.
I love Kat.
No one's questioning that.
But sometimes even if you love someone, you can have feelings for someone else.
Ben were you seeing Erica Hartford We tried to keep it a secret.
We didn't want to hurt Kat.
But she found out anyway.
I'd written a letter to Erica telling her how I felt, and, um, it was in my locker at school.
Kat keeps stuff in there, and she found the letter.
Was this the day of the party? Yep.
She brought the letter with her that night.
She was really pissed off.
I don't blame her.
Where's the letter now? I don't know.
She was screaming, and she crumpled it up and threw it at me.
I don't know what happened to it after that.
Do you tnk Kat killed Erica? I've been with Kat for two years now.
She's a good person.
Good people make mistakes.
She was angry, yeah, but there is no way no way that Kat would hurt Erica.
So no one saw a girl matching Kat Crosby's description anywhere near the alley where the car was found.
Not yet, I've got cops canvassing the neighborhood.
Come on.
How many lily-white prep school girls are strolling around Compton that time of night? How about the cab companies? I sent Kat's photo to all the major taxi dispatchers.
Hopefully, a driver'll come forward.
Bus drivers? Same deal.
So we're nowhere.
Maybe not.
I just got Andrea Krosby's credit card report.
There's a hit from a gas station in Compton the night Erica Hartford died.
Any witnesses? The clerk can I.
D.
the mother's Mercedes, but he didn't see who was driving.
Security cameras? They haven't worked in three years.
Okay.
The Crosby's must use a security company at their house.
Get me the alarm logs I want to know exactly when the mom came and went that night.
You just may work out.
Is there anything I can do? I got it covered.
You were good.
You know, with that kid on the street.
Thanks.
Now, that is a beautiful man.
He's okay.
He's kind of tall.
I don't know.
I'm not sure I'd work without a net.
Do you plan to sleep with everyone in the office before Christmas? Is that an invitation? I think he likes you.
I don't do office romance.
Who said anything about romance? Jealousy killed Erica Hartford.
Katherine Crosby found out that her best friend was having a secret affair with her boyfriend.
She was hurt, she was angry.
You'll hear evidence that Katherine went to a party that night to confront them, and she found them in the bedroom together.
There was a heated argument, and then Erica left the party alone.
Intoxicated and furious, Katherine got into her car and took off.
Then she spotted Erica walking down the side of the road, and in a jealous rage she ran Erica down, later dumping her BMW in Compton, hoping that it would quickly disappear, and then enlisting the help of her mother to hide her crime.
Fooling around with your best friend's boyfriend isn't very nice but Erica didn't deserve to die for it.
Katherine Crosby ended a life full of potential and promise.
She needs to pay for that.
It doesn't add up.
The precution asserts that Andrea Crosby drove to Compton that night to pick up her daughter after she dumped the damaged BMW.
But we will present a time-coded record of online purchases made by Andrea Crosby at the precise time she is alleged to have come to Katherine's aid.
In addition, an expert in automobile fatalities will show that Erica Hartford's death could nopossibly have been intentional.
Now, Erica's death is a tragedy, but there's no sinister conspiracy here.
Someone stole a car and hit a pedestrian as they sped away.
Find that person.
Punish them.
But don't blame Katherine Crosby for a crime she didn't commit.
We couldn't get a search warrant for the mother's computer.
So I gather.
We could try going through the Internet provider.
Good impulse, not exactly timely.
Maybe we can prove that those purchases were made by someone else using the mother's account.
Lauder's smart he's not gonna make claims he can't back up.
We need to find a witness who saw Andrea Crosby getting gas in Compton that night.
You, find out who Lauder's using as an accident expert.
And, you, find that witness, fast.
Make sure Isaac signs this investigator's report, will ya? I like to keep all the I's dotted and the T's crossed.
Oh, and by the way, on Hey.
Oh, hey, what are you doing down here? There's a photography exhibit at MOCA.
Oh, uh I need to talk to you.
Okay, I just have to finish up one thing on this case.
That's what I wanted to talk to you about.
Look, I know Kat Crosby, and there's no way she could have done this.
Honey, I know this is tough on you.
Kat is a really sweet girl, okay? She's always gone out of her way to help people.
She's smart, she's funny And she made a big mistake.
Just because you say so? No, because she had motive and opportunity, and all credible evidence points to her.
There's nothing I can do, sweetie.
Hey, Julie.
Sorry to interrupt.
It's important.
Go.
Cops tracked down everyone who charged gas at that service station between midnight and 3:00 a.
m.
Right.
A woman saw two people by Andrea Crosby's Mercedes.
She I.
D'd Kat Crosby off her photograph.
I'm sorry, Jules.
Thing is, she wasn't with her mother.
She was with a teenage boy.
Why'd you lie to us, Ben? I didn't lie to you.
You didn't tell us that you helped Kat dump the BMW.
I didn't want to get her in trouble.
I hate to tell you, but she's already in trouble.
And if you don't give a full statement about what happened that night, I'm coming after you, and trust me, that is something you do not want.
Do I need a lawyer? Not if you tell us the truth.
All right.
Kat saw Erica and me at the party that night.
We were making out upstairs in a bedroom.
Kat went ballistic.
She started screaming at us.
Erica couldn't deal, she took off.
I followed Kat out to her car.
She was drunk and freaking out.
She wouldn't let me drive her home, so I got in the passenger seat.
I was just I was just trying to calm her down.
Go on.
Kat saw Erica walking in the street.
I thought she was just going to pull over so we could all talk things out, but instead of slowing down Kat drove right into her.
Did you try and help Erica? Of course I tried to help her.
I got out, I checked her pulse.
It was too late.
Why didn't you call the police? Because I couldn't do that to Kat.
This whole thing was all my fault.
It's over, Kat.
Ben told us exactly what happened that night.
Kat came straight home after the party.
Ben was in the car when Kat hit Erica.
He's an eyewitness.
What are you offering? reduce the charge of vehicular manslaughter and let her plead as a minor.
She'll be out in seven, max.
Seven years for something she didn't do? Mom.
This boy already lied once.
To protect his girlfriend.
Jury won't blame him for that.
In fact, it makes him more credible.
Take the deal.
My daughter's not going to jail.
Come on, honey.
Trying to throw you a bone here, Dan.
The mother won't budge.
Kat could get 30 years.
Offer's declined.
Is Lauder drunk? That's a great offer.
He wanted to take it.
I think the girl did, too, but the mother refuses to believe her daughter did this.
I guess I can understand that.
Hey, I'm a big fan of denial, God knows, but she's going to lose her kid over this thing.
Parents aren't always in touch with their children.
Doesn't your daughter know Kat Crosby? They went to summer camp together.
Julie's taking it really hard.
Yeah, apparently.
Since she made a few comments about the case to her school paper.
She thinks Kat's innocent.
That's got to be a mistake.
Julie would never do that.
Anyway, who cares, I mean, either way it's a circulation of what, 200? Try 20 million.
The editor's mom runs the local office of the Associated Press.
The Associated Press picked that up? And ran with it.
What, you want me to apologize? No, I want you to explain to me why you directly contradicted my instructions not to talk to the press.
Look, I'm entitled to my opinion.
Yes, you are, but not when those opinions become fodder on CNN in the middle of a murder trial! Look, Dad, I'm sorry! I didn't know it was going to be such a big deal.
Great, well, you can tell that to Dr.
Phil on the Father-Daughter Feud Special.
Look, all I said was that I think Kat is innocent.
The jury is not sequestered! They can read this in the newspaper, see it on TV and the on the stupid Internet So? So, have I not taught you that jury trials are just popularity contests?! My own 16-year-old daughter doesn't believe me, why should they? I asked you to be careful.
No, you asked me to keep my mouth shut.
I couldn't.
Kat's my friend.
And I'm your father.
Mr.
Archer, did you create this computer simulation of the crash that killed Erica Hartford? Yes.
And will you share your conclusions with the court? By programming the precise road and weather conditions on the night in question, and taking into account the injuries sustained by the victim and a full forensic crime-scene analysis, it is my opinion that this collision was accidental.
Thank you.
Cross-examination.
You're a pioneer in your field, is that correct, Mr.
Archer? Yes.
And would you say that computer simulation is a reliable tool? Given sufficient data, the technique is 99.
37% accurate.
99.
37% Impressive.
Your Honor, I would like to direct the court's attention to the monitor.
Miss Troy.
Do you recognize this simulation, Mr.
Archer? Uh, yes.
I imagine you would, since you created it for the firm of Stark Bell in 2003.
What was it intended to show? That a single-engine plane crashed due to pilot error.
In other words, you asserted that this crash was accidental.
Much as you've testified here today about this case.
Is that right? Yes.
Then I imagine it was a bit of a shock when the pilot's suicide note was discovered at the crash site.
No program is perfect.
Right, but 99.
37%.
That is the accuracy that you claimed, right? Well, yes, but So your plane crash recreation must have snuck into that pesky .
63% error zone.
I guess that's a problem with computer simulations.
Sometimes you just crash and burn.
No more questions, Your nor.
Your tribute would embarrass me if it weren't so richly deserved.
Leave it to you to eviscerate an expert witness.
I almost feel sorry for the guy.
You wouldn't if you knew how much he charged for those phony videos.
We've got a problem with our witness.
You're like a tiny angel of death.
Lauder found Ben Channing's juvenile court record.
Those records are sealed.
Not anymore.
The judge granted his motion to include them.
Convictions for shoplifting and vandalism.
There goes his credibility.
We need to corroborate his relationship with Erica.
You talk to Erica's parents.
Yeah, they came in pretty broken up.
They didn't know anything about Erica's social life.
Did you talk to both parents at the same time? Yeah.
Go see the mother alone.
Why? Teenage girls don't talk about sex with their fathers, thank God, and their mothers keep those secrets.
Thank you for seeing me, Mrs.
Hartford.
Is the case going well? Yes, but we still need to understand the relationship between your daughter and Ben Channing.
Maybe I'm naive, but I was shocked to hear Erica and Ben were Erica loved Kat.
It wasn't in her to hurt a friend that way.
Did you ever see your daughter and Ben together? No.
She was very private about her social life.
The truth is, I think she was afraid to tell her dad she was seeing a white boy.
You must have known that something was going on.
When Erica first went to South Lake, she felt like she was from another planet.
It was so lonely for her.
About six months ago, something changed.
Suddenly Erica was laughing and singing, going out on weekends.
She met someone.
I didn't ask questions.
I was happy for her.
She'd be in her room late at night, playing that CD over and over.
What CD was that? The ones you make on the computer.
Erica would listen to it every night.
Love songs.
Kat's lawyer's going to try and throw you off your story.
Just stay calm and take your time.
Okay.
He'll grill you on your juvenile record.
Tell the truth.
Don't look ashamed.
There's going to be a lot of questions about sex, your relationship with Kat and Erica.
I understand.
They want the jury to see you as a sex-crazed jerk so Kat looks like the victim.
Look, I'm not Exactly.
You love Kat.
You were attracted to Erica.
You made a mistake.
You're very sorry.
Got it? Yeah.
Get anything from Erica's mom? Maybe.
I went through the stuff the cops took from Erica's room.
You made Erica a CD? Yeah.
Erica really loved music.
Is that important? Well, the defense has access to it, which means that they can question you on the content.
We don't want any surprises.
What's on the CD? Just some stuff I knew Erica would like.
I made it months ago.
I can't really remember what's on it.
You ever make Eddie a CD? What? You know, burn a bunch of songs off i-Tunes "You're the Love of My Life," "Never Forget Me" all that kind of thing? No.
I just e-mail him nude pictures of myself.
It takes less time.
Yeah, but if you were to make him a CD, would you remember the songs you chose, say, six months later? Yeah, of course.
I'd remember them forever.
Hmm.
I thought we were heading back to your office.
Yeah, we just have to pick up something from Erica's house on the way.
You guys spent time down there, right? So Kat wouldn't catch on? Sometimes.
Actually, you know this neighborhood pretty well.
Where do we turn? 23rd or 26th? I think you can turn on either one.
Must have been pretty rough juggling two girls at once.
Yeah, especially best friends.
All right, here we are.
Erica had a pretty nice place.
Yeah.
I'll be right back.
It's me.
We're 20 blocks from Erica's house.
Ben's never been here in his life.
Don't let on you know.
Get back here as fast as you can.
Our entire case just blew up.
Hello? Ben Channing's been yanking our chain.
He wasn't having a relationship with Erica Hartford.
We know.
Someone else was.
What is this? Found it in a security-protected folder on Erica's computer.
Tech guys just broke in.
Yeah? Come here.
Hey, it's us! So they liked the beach, big deal.
Just wait for it.
I like my new phone.
Oh! Oh, so Huh.
Looks like they were more than just friends.
High school's changed, huh? Your client was romantically involved with the deceased? Yes, Your Honor.
And did you plan to share that information with us, Mr.
Lauder? I didn't know until Mr.
Stark provided me with the video evidence.
You lied to your attorney, Miss Crosby? Yes, ma'am.
The People request time to reframe their case, Your Honor.
That won't be necessary.
My client is prepared to plead to second degree murder.
Katherine will sign a written confession on the condition that her relationship with Erica Hartford is not part of the record.
I assume these terms are acceptable, Mr.
Stark.
Mr.
Stark? Actually, they're not, Your Honor.
The People won't accept the plea until Ms.
Crosby provides a clear, factual basis a full account of the events of that night.
Okay.
Would you like to reconsider your plea, Mr.
Lauder? Your Honor, this plea was offered against my counsel.
I think you should ask my client.
Very well, Ms.
Crosby.
Are you sure about this plea? Yes.
I just want to pay for what I did and and move on with my life.
You heard her, Mr.
Stark.
If you think there's a more suitable plea, work it out with Mr.
Lauder.
If not, go to trial, or drop the charges.
You've got 24 hours to decide.
We're done.
You turned down murder two? Doesn't smell right.
So hold your nose.
I'm not sure she did it, Jess.
Since when do you care about that? Since when do you not? This is about your daughter.
Oh, please.
She's friends with the defendant, and it's influencing your judgment.
Oh, is our session up, Doctor? I'm telling you, Jess, something is wrong.
Take the plea.
Not till I figure out what's going on.
The judge gave you 24 hours.
If you can't nail somebody else for killing Erica Hartford, I'll take Kat Crosby's plea myself.
Just make sure there's a notation that says "not to scale.
" Dad? Yes.
Oh, hey, everything okay? I just need a second.
I'll go pull the crime scene photos.
I know you're swamped.
I just, I came to apologize.
I shouldn't have talked to the school paper.
But I was mad at you.
I felt like you weren't listening to me.
Your mom always said that.
She was right.
But still, what I did was incredibly selfish and stupid, and I'm really sorry.
And you promise never to disobey me again for the balance of your recorded time? Or at least till college.
Deal.
So can you help Kat? I'm trying, sweetie, but she's not making it easy on us.
Her life was really complicated.
Yeah.
Love is weird.
Makes you do crazy things.
Tell me about it.
Yeah, first time I fell in love Oh, do I really want to hear about this? Paul Dinado, seventh grade.
Mm.
We went out for a month.
Spoke maybe three time It sounds like a recipe for a lasting relationship.
Well, we used to pour our hearts out onto these long notes, and we'd stick them in each other's lockers.
It was pretty queer, I guess, but I kept every single one of them.
Dad? Madeleine, get me Judge Perlman on the phone.
This is harassment.
Not according to the judge that signed the search warrant.
The police already searched my car.
Yeah, well, my guy's better.
Can't you see that whoever stole Kat's car killed Erica? And how do you know that? Because there were kids that didn't belong at that party.
Friends of Erica's.
She's a very sweet girl, but she brought a dangerous element with her.
And now she's dead and my daughter's life may be ruined.
Well, not exactly a liberal, huh? I take it she doesn't know about Kat and Erica.
Kat's terrified about her mom finding out about the relationship.
Mm.
Got something.
Tucked up under the grill of the driver's seat.
Now why didn't the cops come up with that? Narcotics detective could find a grain of coke in a snowstorm.
Ooh I need to talk to your client alone.
You're kidding, right? No.
I'm trying to help.
Says the man that had her arrested in her hospital bed.
That's when I thought she was guilty.
Now I know she's not.
Dan, she's been lying to you all along.
She obviously can't confide in the mother.
Let me try to get through to her.
Why should I trust you? Ben Channing read that letter.
Some mess, huh? Yeah.
Julie sends her love.
She must hate me.
She's worried about you.
Everybody is, even me.
It's my fault Erica's dead.
Oh, I know you believe that, but you and I both know you didn't kill Erica.
Yes, I did.
I believe this is yours.
I had to read it, I'm sorry.
Yeah.
It sounds like Erica loved you very much.
We never meant for any of this to happen.
It just did.
You know Kat, if Erica loved you half as much as that letter says I don't think she'd want you to go on living a lie.
And I know she wouldn't want you to throw your life away.
This isn't just about Erica.
No, I mean I-I cheated on Ben.
He trusted me, and I lied to him.
Kat This isn't his fault, this is my fault.
Look, you're 16 years old.
And you think that you're doing the right thing.
And you think if you tell the truth, the world will come to an end.
But trust me, it won't.
Look at me.
Tell me what really happened that night.
Okay.
Wh-When Erica got to the party Ben called her upstairs.
He had the letter and he was he was really upset.
When I got there they were still arguing.
I mean, we kept apologizing, but he just he just kept getting angrier and angrier.
Go on, sweetie, it's okay.
Erica took off so I could talk to Ben alone.
He calmed down a little, and then he said he wanted to go.
I'd had a few beers that night, so I I gave him the keys to my car.
As we were heading towards my house, we saw Erica walking on the side of the road.
He said he just wanted to scare her, so he started heading towards her.
And then I'll never forget that sound as long as I live.
And and Erica was just She was just lying there.
And-and she wasn't breathing.
So you took your mom's car and you followed Ben down to Compton You dumped the BMW and you came back together.
Yes.
Sweetie, why didn't you just call the police? Because I didn't want Ben to be arrested for something that I made him do.
Ben had a right to be upset, but he didn't have a right to kill Erica.
Her death is his responsibility, not yours.
I really miss her.
I know.
It's okay.
I know.
In a startling development Jack, police have made another arrest in the Erica Hartford murder case.
Only moments after charges were dropped against Katherine Crosby What was that for? Helping my friend.
I can't believe Ben was willing to let Kat go to jail for him.
Well, people do stupid things when they're scared.
I kind of figured you'd be saying "I told you so," right about now.
You knew Kat was innocent.
You think I'm that childish? I told you so.
And I should have listened.
Hmm.
Eventually you'll learn I'm always right.
Took Mom a while, too.
Jules You know how there are certain subjects I'm not exactly comfortable discussing with you? You mean like sex and drugs and Mm, excellent examples.
And when they come up, how I always say I just don't want to know? Mm-hmm.
I want to know.
Good night.
Night.
Yeah.
Nice, sort of.
Oh.
Oh.
Breathe.
Yeah, I'm breathing.
This is me breathing.
Watch.
Listen.
Focus.
Find your center.
I'd rather find yours.
Are you going to take this seriously? Can I tell you honestly? Trying to get me to do yoga is like trying to get Satan to meditate.
Ready for down-facing dog? I thought you'd never ask.
A 16-year-old girl was apparently leaving a party in this affluent Brentwood neighborhood when she was struck from behind by a car.
Did he say Brentwood? Oh, my God, that's horrible.
Paramedics say she died instantly.
Her name is being withheld until her family is notified.
Answer the phone.
Hi, this is Julie.
Leave me a message.
I'll call you back.
Stay here.
Have you seen the body? No, not yet.
My daughter was at this party.
I'm with the DA's office.
Lift up that sheet.
Jeez.
That's my dad.
That's my dad.
Jules.
Jules, I saw it s on the news.
Oh.
What, I tried your cell.
Why wasn't your cell on? I'm sorry.
My battery was dead, Dad.
I'm sorry.
I'm okay.
Look, the girl, her name is Erica Hartford.
She goes to South Lake Prep.
Did you see what happened? No, I was inside.
And some kids they started screaming.
Said something about somebody had been hit by a car And so we called 911.
Go sit in the car.
Don't move.
I'll be just a few minutes, okay? Glad she's okay.
Thank you.
What about this poor kid? Cops tracked down the parents.
They live in Compton.
That's a long way from South Lake Prep.
Yeah, Erica was on scholarship.
Ah.
She invited some friends up here for the party and according to witnesses, that didn't go over too well.
Black victim, rich, white kid party, exclusive neighborhood.
Ah, the press is going to have a field day with this one.
Oh, yeah.
90% of the kids at South Lake, their parents are either rich, famous, or both.
We need answers now, okay? A racially charged case like this, it can get ugly really fast.
- I want to see.
- Maam, maamYou can't Erica I want to see if it's her.
No! No! No! No, please, God! Oh, God! The dead girl is Erica Hartford.
Attended South Lake under the Prep For Prep program.
My dad co-authored that bill.
Minorities from low-income neighborhoods get state subsidies to attend high-end prep schools.
Okay, so what happened? Students at the party said there was tension between some of the victim's Compton friends and the kids from South Lake.
Some of the white girls were hitting on the black guys.
Next thing you know, somebody runs down Erica Hartford.
The cops ran the kids for priors.
Two of Erica's Compton friends have criminal records.
Follow up.
The key is finding that car.
I'm checking every body shop on the west side for vehicles with damage matching this incident.
Good.
Martin, crime scene.
Yep.
Casey, Madeleine, I want you to re-interview every kid at that party.
Is it okay if we talk to your daughter? She is a witness.
Just go easy.
Raina, you're going to head down to Compton with our new investigator.
When did you hire an investigator? In about half an hour.
Hey, when you're done there, you wouldn't mind helping me out on mine, would you, sport? What are you doing here, Stark? I've always had a personal shopper in every boutique on this street.
The question is, what are you doing here? Working.
What are you, a chauffeur? Private security, but you you already knew that, right? Oh, I might have made a few calls.
Isaac, my job offer is still open.
I'm doing just fine.
I mean, the money's good, I'm my own boss.
Yo, Isaac! Get over here, man.
Now! Yo, love the bling.
Are you kidding? This is the guy you'd take a bullet for? I just caught the Brentwood case.
The vehicular homicide on the black teenager? Yeah, and there's a Compton connection.
That's your turf, right? Thanks, anyway, but I'm done with the street.
Yo! Let's roll! You guys got dental? You knew the victim? My friend Kat introduced us a couple months ago.
Katherine Crosby? Mm-hmm.
She and Erica were pretty close.
Were you aware of any tension at the party? There's always drama.
I mean, kids get drunk, fight, fool around, but nothing unusual.
So, how is it working for my dad? It's interesting.
What's it like being his daughter? "Interesting" would definitely be the adjective.
You guys about done? Well, um Good.
we do have a lot of other people to talk to.
Thank you, Julie.
No problem.
You okay? Yeah, I'm fine, Dad.
So, some kids at school are saying that the police are focusing on Erica's friends from Compton.
I can't speak for the police, but my team is talking to everyone, even you.
I need you to be careful, Jules.
This is a very emotional case, and, you know, people know that you're my daughter.
I can handle myself.
Good.
Because the press is all over this thing and when they find out that you were at that party I got it.
Why would someone kill Erica? That's what I'm trying to find out.
I checked this kid's sheet.
He's half a banger.
No offense, I can handle this myself.
I'm sure.
Stark just asked me to watch your back.
I was a legal aide lawyer for two years.
I'm used to bad neighborhoods.
There he is.
Black shirt.
Anthony Rand? Pick up, pick up, pick up.
I'm ADA Troy.
I have a few questions for you.
Like I told the cops, I got nothing to say.
You were at the party where Erica Hartford was killed.
Can I help it if they like to hang with the homeboys? Several witnesses saw you arguing with a boy from South Lake Prep.
You're not putting this on me.
I had nothing to do with what happened.
Yo, man, let's go.
Any way you can get him back here? I'm sorry, you asking for my help? Please.
Yo, Anthony! Lady's got a few more questions for you.
She can ask them here or downtown.
What, you going to arrest me? Well, you're a minor with a sheet.
If I take a weapon off you right now, you're down with juvie, so be smart, and don't make me chase you down.
Tell your boys to take off.
I'll check y'all later, man.
- Cool - A'ight homie.
Now tell me about this party.
It was just a normal party.
People were drinking, but nobody was out of control.
Was there tension between the white kids and the black kids? Not that I saw.
They've partied with us before.
It's no big deal.
Erica asked us to come.
It was cool.
When was the last time you saw her? Upstairs.
She was with some white dude.
Ben Channing.
Plays lacrosse.
I saw Erica and Ben go into a room upstairs.
I don't know if she was getting busy or what.
Were they dating? No.
Ben's been going out with Kat Crosby for almost two years.
Erica was Kat's best friend.
That was Erica's trip, trying to fit in up there.
Good luck with that.
It was hard for her.
Erica wanted to fit in.
She hung out with Kat and Ben all the time.
I think Erica had it bad for him.
She had a crush on Ben? And apparently it was mutual.
Kat showed up and found Erica and Ben in the bedroom.
Really awkward.
The sad reality is that if Erica Hartford were white, and she'd been killed outside a party in South Central, the driver of that car would either be in jail or dead at the hands of the LAPD.
It's like he wants a damn riot.
You know what? It cuts both ways.
You know how many e-mails I've gotten urging me to nail the "black bastards" that did this? You'd think we would have learned something from Rodney King.
Funky part isthis is looking less like a race thing than romance gone wrong.
Victim gets caught fooling around with her best friend's boyfriend.
We need more than that.
Well, try this.
The police got a report of a BMW stolen off the street outside the party house registered to none other than Kat Crosby.
That's awfully coincidental.
Any luck finding her? Not yet, but we're on the boyfriend.
All right, the second you can prove this wasn't about race, I want to hold a news conference.
I want this caseleared before things get out of control.
Ben, several people saw you arguing with Erica the night of the party.
She was upset.
I was trying to calm her down.
Why was she upset? She had invited some of her friends from Compton.
I guess word got around, and 20 people showed up.
Was that a problem? No, not at all, but Erica thought that people would be pissed off at her.
She was always worried about that.
It couldn't have been easy trying to balance two different worlds.
I guess.
But everybody liked her.
I mean, she and my girlfriend Kat, they were good friends.
You had an argument with Kat that night, too, right? She's my girlfriend; we fight all the time.
She wanted to take off, I wanted to stay.
She was my ride.
You sure she wasn't mad because she caught you fooling around with Erica? No way.
We were all friends.
I would never do that to Kat.
All right, where's Kat now? I'm not sure.
Ben, we need to talk to Kat.
Thank you for coming in, Mrs.
Crosby.
We're talking to some of the parents of some of the kids who were at the party.
It's fine.
I don't know what I can tell you.
We wanted to speak to Kat.
Any idea where she is? No.
I saw her running out this morning.
I've been giving her space.
This has been very difficult for her.
You spoke to the police? They came to the house.
I thought they were there about the stolen car.
Did your daughter tell you what happened that night? Only that Erica left early.
When Kat heard what happened, she ran home.
We live only a few blocks away.
She said she was too upset to drive and and she admitted she'd been drinking.
When she returned home the next morning, her car was gone? Yeah.
Mrs.
Crosby, have you considered the possibility that Kat didn't come straight home that night? I don't understand.
Something happened between Kat and Erica that night.
Something involving Ben Channing.
Kat and Erica argued Wait.
Are you suggesting that Kat was somehow involved in Erica's death? We're saying that we need to talk to your daughter.
If you want to speak to either me or my daughter, I suggest you contact my attorney.
How'd that go? Not well.
Isaac.
Make me happy.
Hey, I'm in Compton.
I got a call from a buddy of mine in the Sheriff's Department.
They found Kat Crosby's car off Alameda.
There's blood and fabric on the right, front bumper.
Full forensic rundown.
You are a rock star.
Hold on.
Service provider shows Kat Crosby's phone registering on a cell tower in Laguna.
Ooh, what do you want to bet Mom and Dad have a cozy little place down the coast? You're heading to Laguna.
Several suspects have been questioned in the Erica Hartford hit and run case.
But as of yet no arrests have been made.
All right, I'll check the windows around back.
You can't just spy into someone's house.
He's doing his job.
Are you forgetting that this guy planted evidence in a cop killing? And as a result we took a major drug dealer off the street give him a chance.
This guy knows where to draw the line.
She's barely breathing! Call an ambulance! Hey Kat wake up Wake up.
She's resting comfortably.
Well, good for her.
I still want an officer posted at her door.
She's in no shape to run away.
What'd she take? A combination of prescription sleeping pills and alcohol.
Look, did she try to kill herself or not? Too many pills for an accident, not enough to kill her.
Upset, yeah.
Suicidal? Tough to tell.
I don't want you discussing my daughter's condition with these people.
She doesn't have a choice your daughter's a suspect in a murder investigation.
That doesn't give you the right to harass her caregiver, Sebastian.
You know what, Dan? When I start harassing people, believe me, you'll be the first to know.
We'd like to speak with Kat.
She is in no condition to answer questions.
We'll call you in a few days.
Nice try.
Your client already fled once.
You want to speak to Kat? Have her arrested.
See how that plays in the paper.
Well, when you put it that way.
You arrested the girl in her hospital bed? I suppose I could've waited till she got up to go to the bathroom.
It makes us look like bullies.
It makes us look like prosecutors going after the killer of a teenage girl.
All I'm saying is that arresting the girl the day after she O.
D.
's Jess, okay, for all we know, Kat Crosby did all this to avoid a murder prosecution.
Well, she just might succeed.
Your Honor, it's been five days since my client attempted suicide.
It's unreasonable to make a determination regarding her competency to stand trial at this time.
Miss Crosby was examined by a court-appointed psychiatrist and found to be of sound mind.
And our psychiatrist, a nationally recognized expert in childhood trauma, found that Katherine is in no condition to I'd like to hear from Miss Crosby.
How do you feel, Katherine? I'm okay.
Are you sure you're ready for trial? Yes.
My client's opinion is not a reliable ind I've read the evaluations of both experts, and taking into account the age of this defendant What about the age of the victim, Your Honor? Mr.
Stark Do I need to remind the court of the brutal nature of this crime? No.
Then I'll confine my remarks to the high-profile nature of this case and its potentially explosive impact on the community.
How is that relevant? I'm glad you asked.
The answer's very simple.
We have a black victim of decidedly modest means and a wealthy, white defendant.
It's your call, Judge, but personally, I'd rather not drive home through a war zone tonight.
How'd you know Perlman would grant us a trial based on fear of a riot? In a competency hearing, the judge is your jury.
Her opinion's the only one that matters.
Meaning? Meaning Judge Perlman had a rock thrown through her windshield after the Rodney King verdicts.
That's brilliant.
It's a curse.
It's not all good news.
She denied our motion for a change of venue.
Trial stays on the west side.
Forget the venue.
Let's focus on our theory.
Which is? The ever popular love triangle: Erica loves Ben, Kat loves Ben, Ben loves both, tragedy ensues.
We're gonna have to prove that Erica and Ben hooked up that night.
And that Kat's car wasn't stolen.
She killed Erica, she drove the car to Compton, and she dumped it to cover her tracks and after we prove all that, we have to make a white-bread westside jury stand up for a black girl from a part of the city they wouldn't be caught dead in.
And how do we do that? I have no idea.
This is a murder trial, Ben.
Which means, if you're withholding relevant information, you can be charged as an accessory.
You guys don't understand.
I love Kat.
No one's questioning that.
But sometimes even if you love someone, you can have feelings for someone else.
Ben were you seeing Erica Hartford We tried to keep it a secret.
We didn't want to hurt Kat.
But she found out anyway.
I'd written a letter to Erica telling her how I felt, and, um, it was in my locker at school.
Kat keeps stuff in there, and she found the letter.
Was this the day of the party? Yep.
She brought the letter with her that night.
She was really pissed off.
I don't blame her.
Where's the letter now? I don't know.
She was screaming, and she crumpled it up and threw it at me.
I don't know what happened to it after that.
Do you tnk Kat killed Erica? I've been with Kat for two years now.
She's a good person.
Good people make mistakes.
She was angry, yeah, but there is no way no way that Kat would hurt Erica.
So no one saw a girl matching Kat Crosby's description anywhere near the alley where the car was found.
Not yet, I've got cops canvassing the neighborhood.
Come on.
How many lily-white prep school girls are strolling around Compton that time of night? How about the cab companies? I sent Kat's photo to all the major taxi dispatchers.
Hopefully, a driver'll come forward.
Bus drivers? Same deal.
So we're nowhere.
Maybe not.
I just got Andrea Krosby's credit card report.
There's a hit from a gas station in Compton the night Erica Hartford died.
Any witnesses? The clerk can I.
D.
the mother's Mercedes, but he didn't see who was driving.
Security cameras? They haven't worked in three years.
Okay.
The Crosby's must use a security company at their house.
Get me the alarm logs I want to know exactly when the mom came and went that night.
You just may work out.
Is there anything I can do? I got it covered.
You were good.
You know, with that kid on the street.
Thanks.
Now, that is a beautiful man.
He's okay.
He's kind of tall.
I don't know.
I'm not sure I'd work without a net.
Do you plan to sleep with everyone in the office before Christmas? Is that an invitation? I think he likes you.
I don't do office romance.
Who said anything about romance? Jealousy killed Erica Hartford.
Katherine Crosby found out that her best friend was having a secret affair with her boyfriend.
She was hurt, she was angry.
You'll hear evidence that Katherine went to a party that night to confront them, and she found them in the bedroom together.
There was a heated argument, and then Erica left the party alone.
Intoxicated and furious, Katherine got into her car and took off.
Then she spotted Erica walking down the side of the road, and in a jealous rage she ran Erica down, later dumping her BMW in Compton, hoping that it would quickly disappear, and then enlisting the help of her mother to hide her crime.
Fooling around with your best friend's boyfriend isn't very nice but Erica didn't deserve to die for it.
Katherine Crosby ended a life full of potential and promise.
She needs to pay for that.
It doesn't add up.
The precution asserts that Andrea Crosby drove to Compton that night to pick up her daughter after she dumped the damaged BMW.
But we will present a time-coded record of online purchases made by Andrea Crosby at the precise time she is alleged to have come to Katherine's aid.
In addition, an expert in automobile fatalities will show that Erica Hartford's death could nopossibly have been intentional.
Now, Erica's death is a tragedy, but there's no sinister conspiracy here.
Someone stole a car and hit a pedestrian as they sped away.
Find that person.
Punish them.
But don't blame Katherine Crosby for a crime she didn't commit.
We couldn't get a search warrant for the mother's computer.
So I gather.
We could try going through the Internet provider.
Good impulse, not exactly timely.
Maybe we can prove that those purchases were made by someone else using the mother's account.
Lauder's smart he's not gonna make claims he can't back up.
We need to find a witness who saw Andrea Crosby getting gas in Compton that night.
You, find out who Lauder's using as an accident expert.
And, you, find that witness, fast.
Make sure Isaac signs this investigator's report, will ya? I like to keep all the I's dotted and the T's crossed.
Oh, and by the way, on Hey.
Oh, hey, what are you doing down here? There's a photography exhibit at MOCA.
Oh, uh I need to talk to you.
Okay, I just have to finish up one thing on this case.
That's what I wanted to talk to you about.
Look, I know Kat Crosby, and there's no way she could have done this.
Honey, I know this is tough on you.
Kat is a really sweet girl, okay? She's always gone out of her way to help people.
She's smart, she's funny And she made a big mistake.
Just because you say so? No, because she had motive and opportunity, and all credible evidence points to her.
There's nothing I can do, sweetie.
Hey, Julie.
Sorry to interrupt.
It's important.
Go.
Cops tracked down everyone who charged gas at that service station between midnight and 3:00 a.
m.
Right.
A woman saw two people by Andrea Crosby's Mercedes.
She I.
D'd Kat Crosby off her photograph.
I'm sorry, Jules.
Thing is, she wasn't with her mother.
She was with a teenage boy.
Why'd you lie to us, Ben? I didn't lie to you.
You didn't tell us that you helped Kat dump the BMW.
I didn't want to get her in trouble.
I hate to tell you, but she's already in trouble.
And if you don't give a full statement about what happened that night, I'm coming after you, and trust me, that is something you do not want.
Do I need a lawyer? Not if you tell us the truth.
All right.
Kat saw Erica and me at the party that night.
We were making out upstairs in a bedroom.
Kat went ballistic.
She started screaming at us.
Erica couldn't deal, she took off.
I followed Kat out to her car.
She was drunk and freaking out.
She wouldn't let me drive her home, so I got in the passenger seat.
I was just I was just trying to calm her down.
Go on.
Kat saw Erica walking in the street.
I thought she was just going to pull over so we could all talk things out, but instead of slowing down Kat drove right into her.
Did you try and help Erica? Of course I tried to help her.
I got out, I checked her pulse.
It was too late.
Why didn't you call the police? Because I couldn't do that to Kat.
This whole thing was all my fault.
It's over, Kat.
Ben told us exactly what happened that night.
Kat came straight home after the party.
Ben was in the car when Kat hit Erica.
He's an eyewitness.
What are you offering? reduce the charge of vehicular manslaughter and let her plead as a minor.
She'll be out in seven, max.
Seven years for something she didn't do? Mom.
This boy already lied once.
To protect his girlfriend.
Jury won't blame him for that.
In fact, it makes him more credible.
Take the deal.
My daughter's not going to jail.
Come on, honey.
Trying to throw you a bone here, Dan.
The mother won't budge.
Kat could get 30 years.
Offer's declined.
Is Lauder drunk? That's a great offer.
He wanted to take it.
I think the girl did, too, but the mother refuses to believe her daughter did this.
I guess I can understand that.
Hey, I'm a big fan of denial, God knows, but she's going to lose her kid over this thing.
Parents aren't always in touch with their children.
Doesn't your daughter know Kat Crosby? They went to summer camp together.
Julie's taking it really hard.
Yeah, apparently.
Since she made a few comments about the case to her school paper.
She thinks Kat's innocent.
That's got to be a mistake.
Julie would never do that.
Anyway, who cares, I mean, either way it's a circulation of what, 200? Try 20 million.
The editor's mom runs the local office of the Associated Press.
The Associated Press picked that up? And ran with it.
What, you want me to apologize? No, I want you to explain to me why you directly contradicted my instructions not to talk to the press.
Look, I'm entitled to my opinion.
Yes, you are, but not when those opinions become fodder on CNN in the middle of a murder trial! Look, Dad, I'm sorry! I didn't know it was going to be such a big deal.
Great, well, you can tell that to Dr.
Phil on the Father-Daughter Feud Special.
Look, all I said was that I think Kat is innocent.
The jury is not sequestered! They can read this in the newspaper, see it on TV and the on the stupid Internet So? So, have I not taught you that jury trials are just popularity contests?! My own 16-year-old daughter doesn't believe me, why should they? I asked you to be careful.
No, you asked me to keep my mouth shut.
I couldn't.
Kat's my friend.
And I'm your father.
Mr.
Archer, did you create this computer simulation of the crash that killed Erica Hartford? Yes.
And will you share your conclusions with the court? By programming the precise road and weather conditions on the night in question, and taking into account the injuries sustained by the victim and a full forensic crime-scene analysis, it is my opinion that this collision was accidental.
Thank you.
Cross-examination.
You're a pioneer in your field, is that correct, Mr.
Archer? Yes.
And would you say that computer simulation is a reliable tool? Given sufficient data, the technique is 99.
37% accurate.
99.
37% Impressive.
Your Honor, I would like to direct the court's attention to the monitor.
Miss Troy.
Do you recognize this simulation, Mr.
Archer? Uh, yes.
I imagine you would, since you created it for the firm of Stark Bell in 2003.
What was it intended to show? That a single-engine plane crashed due to pilot error.
In other words, you asserted that this crash was accidental.
Much as you've testified here today about this case.
Is that right? Yes.
Then I imagine it was a bit of a shock when the pilot's suicide note was discovered at the crash site.
No program is perfect.
Right, but 99.
37%.
That is the accuracy that you claimed, right? Well, yes, but So your plane crash recreation must have snuck into that pesky .
63% error zone.
I guess that's a problem with computer simulations.
Sometimes you just crash and burn.
No more questions, Your nor.
Your tribute would embarrass me if it weren't so richly deserved.
Leave it to you to eviscerate an expert witness.
I almost feel sorry for the guy.
You wouldn't if you knew how much he charged for those phony videos.
We've got a problem with our witness.
You're like a tiny angel of death.
Lauder found Ben Channing's juvenile court record.
Those records are sealed.
Not anymore.
The judge granted his motion to include them.
Convictions for shoplifting and vandalism.
There goes his credibility.
We need to corroborate his relationship with Erica.
You talk to Erica's parents.
Yeah, they came in pretty broken up.
They didn't know anything about Erica's social life.
Did you talk to both parents at the same time? Yeah.
Go see the mother alone.
Why? Teenage girls don't talk about sex with their fathers, thank God, and their mothers keep those secrets.
Thank you for seeing me, Mrs.
Hartford.
Is the case going well? Yes, but we still need to understand the relationship between your daughter and Ben Channing.
Maybe I'm naive, but I was shocked to hear Erica and Ben were Erica loved Kat.
It wasn't in her to hurt a friend that way.
Did you ever see your daughter and Ben together? No.
She was very private about her social life.
The truth is, I think she was afraid to tell her dad she was seeing a white boy.
You must have known that something was going on.
When Erica first went to South Lake, she felt like she was from another planet.
It was so lonely for her.
About six months ago, something changed.
Suddenly Erica was laughing and singing, going out on weekends.
She met someone.
I didn't ask questions.
I was happy for her.
She'd be in her room late at night, playing that CD over and over.
What CD was that? The ones you make on the computer.
Erica would listen to it every night.
Love songs.
Kat's lawyer's going to try and throw you off your story.
Just stay calm and take your time.
Okay.
He'll grill you on your juvenile record.
Tell the truth.
Don't look ashamed.
There's going to be a lot of questions about sex, your relationship with Kat and Erica.
I understand.
They want the jury to see you as a sex-crazed jerk so Kat looks like the victim.
Look, I'm not Exactly.
You love Kat.
You were attracted to Erica.
You made a mistake.
You're very sorry.
Got it? Yeah.
Get anything from Erica's mom? Maybe.
I went through the stuff the cops took from Erica's room.
You made Erica a CD? Yeah.
Erica really loved music.
Is that important? Well, the defense has access to it, which means that they can question you on the content.
We don't want any surprises.
What's on the CD? Just some stuff I knew Erica would like.
I made it months ago.
I can't really remember what's on it.
You ever make Eddie a CD? What? You know, burn a bunch of songs off i-Tunes "You're the Love of My Life," "Never Forget Me" all that kind of thing? No.
I just e-mail him nude pictures of myself.
It takes less time.
Yeah, but if you were to make him a CD, would you remember the songs you chose, say, six months later? Yeah, of course.
I'd remember them forever.
Hmm.
I thought we were heading back to your office.
Yeah, we just have to pick up something from Erica's house on the way.
You guys spent time down there, right? So Kat wouldn't catch on? Sometimes.
Actually, you know this neighborhood pretty well.
Where do we turn? 23rd or 26th? I think you can turn on either one.
Must have been pretty rough juggling two girls at once.
Yeah, especially best friends.
All right, here we are.
Erica had a pretty nice place.
Yeah.
I'll be right back.
It's me.
We're 20 blocks from Erica's house.
Ben's never been here in his life.
Don't let on you know.
Get back here as fast as you can.
Our entire case just blew up.
Hello? Ben Channing's been yanking our chain.
He wasn't having a relationship with Erica Hartford.
We know.
Someone else was.
What is this? Found it in a security-protected folder on Erica's computer.
Tech guys just broke in.
Yeah? Come here.
Hey, it's us! So they liked the beach, big deal.
Just wait for it.
I like my new phone.
Oh! Oh, so Huh.
Looks like they were more than just friends.
High school's changed, huh? Your client was romantically involved with the deceased? Yes, Your Honor.
And did you plan to share that information with us, Mr.
Lauder? I didn't know until Mr.
Stark provided me with the video evidence.
You lied to your attorney, Miss Crosby? Yes, ma'am.
The People request time to reframe their case, Your Honor.
That won't be necessary.
My client is prepared to plead to second degree murder.
Katherine will sign a written confession on the condition that her relationship with Erica Hartford is not part of the record.
I assume these terms are acceptable, Mr.
Stark.
Mr.
Stark? Actually, they're not, Your Honor.
The People won't accept the plea until Ms.
Crosby provides a clear, factual basis a full account of the events of that night.
Okay.
Would you like to reconsider your plea, Mr.
Lauder? Your Honor, this plea was offered against my counsel.
I think you should ask my client.
Very well, Ms.
Crosby.
Are you sure about this plea? Yes.
I just want to pay for what I did and and move on with my life.
You heard her, Mr.
Stark.
If you think there's a more suitable plea, work it out with Mr.
Lauder.
If not, go to trial, or drop the charges.
You've got 24 hours to decide.
We're done.
You turned down murder two? Doesn't smell right.
So hold your nose.
I'm not sure she did it, Jess.
Since when do you care about that? Since when do you not? This is about your daughter.
Oh, please.
She's friends with the defendant, and it's influencing your judgment.
Oh, is our session up, Doctor? I'm telling you, Jess, something is wrong.
Take the plea.
Not till I figure out what's going on.
The judge gave you 24 hours.
If you can't nail somebody else for killing Erica Hartford, I'll take Kat Crosby's plea myself.
Just make sure there's a notation that says "not to scale.
" Dad? Yes.
Oh, hey, everything okay? I just need a second.
I'll go pull the crime scene photos.
I know you're swamped.
I just, I came to apologize.
I shouldn't have talked to the school paper.
But I was mad at you.
I felt like you weren't listening to me.
Your mom always said that.
She was right.
But still, what I did was incredibly selfish and stupid, and I'm really sorry.
And you promise never to disobey me again for the balance of your recorded time? Or at least till college.
Deal.
So can you help Kat? I'm trying, sweetie, but she's not making it easy on us.
Her life was really complicated.
Yeah.
Love is weird.
Makes you do crazy things.
Tell me about it.
Yeah, first time I fell in love Oh, do I really want to hear about this? Paul Dinado, seventh grade.
Mm.
We went out for a month.
Spoke maybe three time It sounds like a recipe for a lasting relationship.
Well, we used to pour our hearts out onto these long notes, and we'd stick them in each other's lockers.
It was pretty queer, I guess, but I kept every single one of them.
Dad? Madeleine, get me Judge Perlman on the phone.
This is harassment.
Not according to the judge that signed the search warrant.
The police already searched my car.
Yeah, well, my guy's better.
Can't you see that whoever stole Kat's car killed Erica? And how do you know that? Because there were kids that didn't belong at that party.
Friends of Erica's.
She's a very sweet girl, but she brought a dangerous element with her.
And now she's dead and my daughter's life may be ruined.
Well, not exactly a liberal, huh? I take it she doesn't know about Kat and Erica.
Kat's terrified about her mom finding out about the relationship.
Mm.
Got something.
Tucked up under the grill of the driver's seat.
Now why didn't the cops come up with that? Narcotics detective could find a grain of coke in a snowstorm.
Ooh I need to talk to your client alone.
You're kidding, right? No.
I'm trying to help.
Says the man that had her arrested in her hospital bed.
That's when I thought she was guilty.
Now I know she's not.
Dan, she's been lying to you all along.
She obviously can't confide in the mother.
Let me try to get through to her.
Why should I trust you? Ben Channing read that letter.
Some mess, huh? Yeah.
Julie sends her love.
She must hate me.
She's worried about you.
Everybody is, even me.
It's my fault Erica's dead.
Oh, I know you believe that, but you and I both know you didn't kill Erica.
Yes, I did.
I believe this is yours.
I had to read it, I'm sorry.
Yeah.
It sounds like Erica loved you very much.
We never meant for any of this to happen.
It just did.
You know Kat, if Erica loved you half as much as that letter says I don't think she'd want you to go on living a lie.
And I know she wouldn't want you to throw your life away.
This isn't just about Erica.
No, I mean I-I cheated on Ben.
He trusted me, and I lied to him.
Kat This isn't his fault, this is my fault.
Look, you're 16 years old.
And you think that you're doing the right thing.
And you think if you tell the truth, the world will come to an end.
But trust me, it won't.
Look at me.
Tell me what really happened that night.
Okay.
Wh-When Erica got to the party Ben called her upstairs.
He had the letter and he was he was really upset.
When I got there they were still arguing.
I mean, we kept apologizing, but he just he just kept getting angrier and angrier.
Go on, sweetie, it's okay.
Erica took off so I could talk to Ben alone.
He calmed down a little, and then he said he wanted to go.
I'd had a few beers that night, so I I gave him the keys to my car.
As we were heading towards my house, we saw Erica walking on the side of the road.
He said he just wanted to scare her, so he started heading towards her.
And then I'll never forget that sound as long as I live.
And and Erica was just She was just lying there.
And-and she wasn't breathing.
So you took your mom's car and you followed Ben down to Compton You dumped the BMW and you came back together.
Yes.
Sweetie, why didn't you just call the police? Because I didn't want Ben to be arrested for something that I made him do.
Ben had a right to be upset, but he didn't have a right to kill Erica.
Her death is his responsibility, not yours.
I really miss her.
I know.
It's okay.
I know.
In a startling development Jack, police have made another arrest in the Erica Hartford murder case.
Only moments after charges were dropped against Katherine Crosby What was that for? Helping my friend.
I can't believe Ben was willing to let Kat go to jail for him.
Well, people do stupid things when they're scared.
I kind of figured you'd be saying "I told you so," right about now.
You knew Kat was innocent.
You think I'm that childish? I told you so.
And I should have listened.
Hmm.
Eventually you'll learn I'm always right.
Took Mom a while, too.
Jules You know how there are certain subjects I'm not exactly comfortable discussing with you? You mean like sex and drugs and Mm, excellent examples.
And when they come up, how I always say I just don't want to know? Mm-hmm.
I want to know.
Good night.
Night.